Spending JUST Enough

Since the late ’90s, the Giants always seemed to set their payroll just high enough to give them hope to contend into September. From there, they either went on a playoff run or faded.

Shea try’s to say that with the Dodgers recent sale, the Giants will have to really ratchet up spending to keep pace if they want to keep the same philosophy in tact.

Well, I hate to break it to John and the rest of the people that are fans of the Giants but that isn’t going to happen. Let’s take a look at that quote from Shea again.

“The Giants… set their payroll just high enough to give them hope to contend into September.”

The Giants don’t set their payroll high enough to be the best team in baseball, they don’t set their payroll to be the best team in the National League, they don’t set their payroll high enough to make the playoffs, they set their payroll JUST high enough to contend into September.

So the big question is what does contend mean?

For the Giants it seems to be that they are not mathematically eliminated in August. 8 games back at the start of September? Don’t worry if everything breaks right the team might make they playoffs, keep buying tickets, we are CONTENDING!

So if the Dodgers payroll starts pushing $200 million don’t expect the Giants to follow suit as long as the goal is to contend when $100 million will get you a .500 season most years and within spitting distance of that second wild card spot.